Response to Stampfer Commentary 英文参考文献.docVIP

Open access, freely available online Correspondence Misleading Information on the Properties of Vitamin C Steve Hickey (radicalascorbate@) Manchester Metropolitan University Manchester, United Kingdom Steve Hickey, Hilary Roberts Hilary Roberts The Cochrane review by Douglas et al. [1], which is referenced in the Best Practice article by Douglas and Hemil? [2], covers 60 years of research into vitamin C and the common cold. However, the review omits pharmacokinetic data that invalidate the conclusion that vitamin C is ineffective. This conclusion is not derivable from the data presented. The dual-phase pharmacokinetics of vitamin C are described by the dynamic ?ow model [3,4]. Low gram-level intakes of ascorbate, leading to blood plasma levels below 70 μM/l, have a half-life of 8–40 days. Higher gram-level intakes have a plasma half-life of 30 minutes [3]. A large oral dose raises blood plasma levels brie?y: they reach a peak after two to three hours, before decaying back to baseline. Frequent repeated doses allow sustained high plasma levels of about 250 μM/l [4,5]. Douglas and Hemil? reviewed intakes that transiently raise plasma ascorbate levels above 70 μM/l. A single dose does not raise the median level [6,7]. Daily supplements would, thus, not increase disease resistance to any great degree [3,4]. Single or double doses daily will not increase background plasma levels, regardless of the magnitude of the dose [6,7]. Since plasma ascorbate is at background level for the majority of the day, effects will be minimal. Manchester, United Kingdom References 1. Douglas RM, Hemil? H, D’Souza R, Chalker EB, Treacy B (2004) Vitamin C for preventing and treating the common cold. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 4: CD000980.pub2. 2. 3. 4. 5. Douglas RM, Hemil? H (2005) Vitamin C for preventing and treating the common cold. PLoS Med 2: e168. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.0020168 Hickey S, Roberts HJ (2004) Ascorbate: The science of vitamin C. Napa (California): Lulu Press. 264 p.